El Khannouss admits Morocco lacked humility in a laboured 4-2 win over Haiti and other concerns

Morocco sealed their spot successful the past 32 of the 2026 World Cup but near Atlanta with much questions than answers, with Stuttgart winger Bilal El Khannouss delivering a stark dressing-room verdict aft a laboured 4-2 triumph implicit Haiti that was expected to beryllium a comfy sendoff from the radical stage.

Having gone down doubly to a broadside ranked among the tournament's weakest, the Atlas Lions relied connected the idiosyncratic brilliance of Achraf Hakimi and a decisive brace of substitute contributions to rescue the 3 points. The performance, though capable for qualification, raised morganatic concerns astir Morocco's readiness for the knockout rounds — wherever they are apt to look a importantly sterner introspection from the Netherlands.

Morocco vs. Haiti: El Khannouss's damning verdict

El Khannouss did not effort to formal up the evening's difficulties aft the last whistle.

'There were moments erstwhile we lacked humility,' the Stuttgart midfielder said connected beIN Sports. 'We were not going into duels astatine 100 per cent, we were not playing each enactment to the maximum, and we gave them confidence.'

The admittance was pointed. Morocco had arrived astatine the fixture knowing that qualification was already mathematically probable earlier kick-off, and that intelligence comfortableness — combined with the enactment of an understrength starting eleven pursuing 4 changes by brag Mohamed Ouahbi — appeared to nutrient precisely the benignant of intelligence lapse El Khannouss identified. Real Betis midfielder Sofyan Amrabat, 1 of the heroes of Morocco's singular 2022 World Cup run, besides struggled successful the aboriginal stages earlier recovering his composure.

The clearest idiosyncratic culprit was Anass Salah-Eddine astatine left-back, whose treble mistake allowed Haiti's opening extremity and who looked exposed passim his clip connected the pitch. Brahim Diaz had a disappointing evening successful the attacking third, accumulating method errors and mediocre decisions aft a radical signifier successful which helium had provided an assistance successful each of Morocco's erstwhile 2 matches.

Morocco vs. Haiti: a persistent ratio occupation that could beryllium costly

The much important structural interest runs deeper than idiosyncratic errors. Saibari did person for the 3rd successive World Cup fixture to found an African scoring record, but managed lone 1 changeable connected people from 5 attempts. Across the full match, Morocco registered 11 shots connected people from 22 attempts — a 50 per cent accuracy complaint that reflects a recurring signifier passim their radical signifier campaign.

In the gully with Brazil, missed chances had already contributed to a nervy outcome. Against Scotland, a nonaccomplishment to person opportunities built unnecessary hostility precocious successful a 1-0 victory. Against decently organised and unsafe knockout opposition, that profligacy volition transportation a acold higher price.

El Khannouss was alert of the discourse erstwhile asked to look ahead.

'The radical signifier is over,' helium said. 'Now it is simple: you triumph and you continue, oregon you suffer and you spell home. We are alert of that.'

The positives that remain

Morocco's origin is not without genuine encouragement. Hakimi's extremity and assistance against Haiti confirmed that the Paris Saint-Germain right-back has recovered signifier astatine precisely the close infinitesimal aft a comparatively quiescent commencement to the tournament, and helium remains susceptible of winning matches single-handedly successful the close conditions. Substitute Soufiane Rahimi scored and assisted from the bench, portion Yassine Gessime provided further grounds of a squad with important depth.

But the Netherlands — Morocco's astir probable last-32 hostile — volition not acquisition the Atlas Lions the benignant of antiaircraft vulnerabilities that Haiti repeatedly exposed. Ouahbi has a week to code the intelligence and tactical concerns that Wednesday evening laid bare.

Le Maroc renverse le lucifer et se qualifie determination les 16èmes! ?? #FIFAWorldCup